The story of the Albion Juniors soccer program in Skye Canyon
By Kirk Kern
Seven years ago, Oscar Cisneros was looking for another great community to expand his Albion Juniors soccer program, which launched in 2015 in Inspirada as the Durango Soccer Club.
He found what he was looking for in Skye Canyon.
“We decided to expand into Skye Canyon because it felt like such a great fit for the type of family-centered community we love serving,” he said. “It is a community where families are very involved, kids are active and people really value having activities close to home.
“At the same time, opportunities like this only happen when the timing is right and the city supports them. We were fortunate to have the opportunity to grow into the area, and once that happened, Skye Canyon felt like a natural fit for Albion Juniors.”
Since expanding to Skye Canyon, Cisneros said the program has offered a place where kids can learn, grow, make friends and fall in love with soccer in a fun and welcoming environment. It has grown in popularity every year. In fact, the league initially played games at Skye Canyon Park but later moved to Alyn Beck Park because it needed more space.
Today, Albion Juniors serves boys and girls ages 3 to 13 in a co-ed recreational program where fun, learning and confidence come first. For many children, this is their first experience in organized sports. It is a place where kids can try something new, build confidence, learn teamwork and make friends in a supportive environment where learning matters more than winning.
Cisneros has been involved since day one and continues to lead Albion Juniors today. Over the years, he has helped shape many parts of the program, from how children learn and play each week to the overall experience families have in the league. Much of what families see today — including the structure of the program, uniforms and many of the graphics shared throughout the season — has been created by Cisneros and the longtime staff members who continue to help the program grow.
“Families really enjoy having a league close to home,” he said. “We see many families walking, biking, scootering and even arriving in golf carts. Saturdays feel very family-oriented, and over time families, players, coaches and staff get to know each other. It really becomes a soccer family.”
Many local families return season after season, and for some players, Albion Juniors becomes the first step into competitive soccer through Albion Soccer Club.
“Around 10 to 15 percent of our players eventually move into more competitive soccer after a couple of seasons or years, whether through Albion Soccer Club or another club,” Cisneros said, adding that competitive programs are more year-round, with additional practices, travel and games against teams from outside Las Vegas. Many players move to competitive soccer at ages 8 or 9, while others continue in the recreational program through age 13.
Albion Juniors is built around community. Many volunteer coaches learn alongside their teams, while many referees are current Albion club players, giving younger kids positive role models and helping older players develop leadership skills.
Most importantly, Albion Juniors is about more than soccer. It is about friendships, confidence, learning and creating positive memories. Whether a child wants to simply have fun, make new friends or continue growing in the sport, Albion Juniors offers a place where every player belongs.
Albion Juniors offers two seasons per year, in the spring and fall, with eight games played each season on Saturdays. Fall season registration is now open, with registration closing July 31. Visit AlbionJuniorsLasVegas.org for details.
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